Entry Level Public Health Research Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

We are seeking a Consultant – Public Health Informatics to help public-sector health organizations evaluate, modernize, and improve the technologies and information infrastructure that support public health programs.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on informatics experience with strong analytical, consulting, and communication skills. This person will work as part of multidisciplinary teams supporting public health agencies, health information exchanges (HIEs), and other healthcare and public health organizations. Responsibilities will include assessing existing capabilities, analyzing technology and interoperability approaches, engaging with technical and program stakeholders, and developing practical recommendations for modernization.

This is an early-to-mid-career consulting role for someone who is comfortable working with health information systems, data exchange, workflows, and standards and can translate technical findings into clear conclusions and recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Conduct assessments of public health information systems, technology capabilities, workflows, interoperability, and supporting infrastructure.
• Gather and analyze information through document review, interviews, workshops, system demonstrations, data analysis, and other evaluation activities.
• Engage with public health leaders, program staff, informaticists, technology teams, vendors, HIEs, and other stakeholders to understand current capabilities, needs, constraints, and priorities.
• Analyze current-state capabilities, identify gaps and risks, and contribute to actionable findings and recommendations.
• Evaluate technology architectures, interoperability approaches, standards, and implementation options.
• Apply knowledge of U.S. healthcare and public health interoperability standards to technology evaluations and modernization initiatives.
• Contribute hands-on informatics expertise to client engagements, including analysis of data, workflows, standards, interfaces, and information exchange.
• Develop clear reports, presentations, assessment findings, roadmaps, and other client deliverables.
• Present analysis and recommendations to client stakeholders and contribute to discussions with executive-level leaders.
• Support the design and application of evaluation frameworks, methodologies, criteria, and measures.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of public health, informatics, technology, policy, and program-management professionals.
• Contribute to project planning, client meetings, research, analysis, and other consulting activities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health informatics, biomedical informatics, information systems, computer science, health administration, or a related field.
• Professional experience in health informatics, public health informatics, health IT, interoperability, or a closely related field.
• Hands-on informatics experience involving health data, information systems, interoperability, workflows, data exchange, or standards.
• Experience contributing to assessments or evaluations of public health or healthcare technologies, systems, or information capabilities.
• Experience developing and presenting analysis, findings, or recommendations for client or organizational leaders.
• Working knowledge of U.S. national healthcare and public health technology and interoperability standards, such as HL7 FHIR, HL7 v2, C-CDA, USCDI, terminology standards, or related national interoperability frameworks.
• Familiarity with the U.S. HIE ecosystem, including health information exchanges, health information networks, health data utilities, or similar data-intermediary organizations.
• Strong analytical, research, written communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders and work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary consulting team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on public health informatics experience within or supporting a federal, state, tribal, local, or territorial public health organization.
• Experience with public health data exchange or systems supporting areas such as electronic case reporting, electronic laboratory reporting, immunization, syndromic surveillance, vital records, registries, or other public health programs.
• Experience working with HIEs, health data utilities, health information networks, or national interoperability initiatives.
• Consulting experience supporting government health agencies.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Consultant will be able to quickly understand a client’s public health technology environment, ask effective questions of technical and program stakeholders, analyze information from multiple sources, and identify meaningful gaps, risks, and opportunities.

The person will bring enough technical and informatics depth to understand how systems and information exchange work in practice while also being able to communicate findings clearly to non-technical stakeholders. Over time, the Consultant will take increasing ownership of assessment activities, client interactions, analysis, and deliverables while developing deeper expertise in public health technology and interoperability.

Why Work for Leap Orbit?

At Leap Orbit, we are more than just a healthcare technology company—we are a team of innovators dedicated to transforming the industry with cutting-edge solutions. Here’s why you should consider joining us:

Meaningful Impact – Our work directly improves healthcare systems, helping providers deliver better care and enhancing patient outcomes.

Innovative Culture – We embrace creativity, encourage new ideas, and empower employees to solve complex challenges in healthcare technology.

Career Growth & Development – We invest in our team with mentorship, learning opportunities, and a supportive environment that fosters professional growth.

Work-Life Balance – We understand the importance of flexibility and offer remote work options, competitive benefits, and a healthy work-life balance.

Collaborative & Inclusive Team – We thrive on teamwork, respect diverse perspectives, and cultivate a culture of openness and mutual support.

The Bennies.....

We currently offer the following benefits to all full-time employees:

Medical Insurance (including prescription drug coverage)

Health Savings Account

Dental Insurance / Vision Insurance

*Short Term Disability/*Long Term Disability

*Basic Life Insurance

*Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

*Employee Assistance Program

Unlimited PTO/Paid Holidays

*100% Employer-paid!

Salary Range: $105,000 - $120,000 annually + bonus potential

We are looking for talented, motivated individuals to join our team and help drive the future of healthcare technology. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are eager to work on meaningful projects, we’d love to hear from you! EEOE. E-Verify.